to the Shoalhaven City SES Unit
The State Emergency Service is an emergency and rescue service dedicated to assisting the community. It is almost entirely volunteer, with
over 200 Units located throughout NSW, and comprising of more that 10,000 volunteer members who are easily identified by their distinctive orange overalls.
While it’s major responsibilities are for flood, storm and tsunami operations, the SES provides an invaluable resource of trained rescuers to support full time emergency services in the event of a major disaster. In the rural area of the State, the SES provides the majority of the rescue effort, and units are involved in Road Crash Rescue, Wilderness Search and Rescue, rescue from heights and depths and many specialist forms of rescue which may be required due to local threats.
The State Emergency Services, as it was then known, was formed in April, 1955, following disastrous floods throughout NSW which caused loss of life and massive damage to property. The Government of the day recognised the need for a body of trained and disciplined Volunteers with good local knowledge to be available at short noti
ce to assist the community in the event of such disasters.
Later the same year, in view of the tense world situation which existed, the government decided that there was a need for an organisation capable of providing for the Civil defence of the community in the event of nuclear attack. In September, 1955, the two organisations were amalgamated under the leadership of Major General (later Sir) Ivan Doughty. The new organisation was known as Civil Defence.In 1972, the first legislation, known as the State Emergency Service and Civil Defence Act, was passed by Parliament. This Act remained in force until 1989 when it was replaced by the State Emergency Service.
The State Emergency Service has the following functions under the Act:
To act as the combat agency for dealing with floods (including the establishment of flood warning systems) and to co-ordinate the evacuation and welfare of affected communities.
To act as the combat agency for damage control for storms and tempests and to co-ordinate the evacuation and welfare of affected communities.
To act as the combat agency for the warning and evacuation of communities during Tsunami Operations.
To carry out, by accredited SES rescue units, operations allocated by the State Rescue and Emergency Services Board.To assist the State Emergency operations Controller to carry out emergency management functions relating to the prevention of, preparation for, response to and recovery from emergencies in accordance with the State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989.
To assist, at their request, members of the NSW Police, NSW Fire Brigade, Rural Fire Service and NSW Ambulance in dealing with any incident or emergency.
To maintain effective liaison with all emergency service organisations
To carry out such other functions as may be assigned to it by or under this or any Act, or by the Minister or by the State Emergency Operations Controller.
To maintain effective liaison with all emergency service organisations
To carry out such other functions as may be assigned to it by or under this or any Act, or by the Minister or by the State Emergency Operations Controller.
The State Emergency Service consists of State Headquarters (SHQ) located at Wollongong which consists of 60 
permanent staff with the Director General as the SES NSW person in command and 17 Regional Headquarters (RHQ) around the state.
The Illawarra/South Coast (ISC) Region Headquarters, for which Shoalhaven City is a unit, is located at Wollongong and have a
permanent staff of five with approximately twenty volunteers. There are 11 Units in our region.
Shoalhaven City SES unit is entirely made up of volunteers as are all units at a local level. We comprise of field (storm & wilderness search) and headquarters teams.
State Emergency Service volunteers are trained in a variety of skills. The basic training consists of Inducti
on and First Aid for operations staff and Induction, First Aid and Storm & Water Damage for field crews.
Operations staff can then do Work in an Operations Centre, Communications and RFA Online whilst field teams go on to do General Rescue, Land Search, Map Reading and Navigation, Communications, Flood Boat and Chainsaw Operations, among others.
It is recommended (but not necessary) that operations staff complete field courses and field teams complete operational courses. This gives a better understanding of what is occurring in each section and a better perspective of what may be taking place. Training is usually conducted on a unit basis by experienced and qualified volunteer instructors. At the end of each course volunteers are assessed by qualified volunteer assessors from another unit.
You also have the opportunity to become a trainer and/or assessor yourself.
If you have any questions about training please don’t hesitate to talk to any of the training team.
Funding comes from a variety of sources. 
The Commonwealth and State Governments provide an allocation, whilst a proportion also comes from the community by way of fundraising. Shoalhaven City SES Unit is also provided generous funding from the Shoalhaven City Council.
These funds are used for day to day running of the unit by way of purchasing equipment and administration costs. During emergencies operational cost are financed through this funding support.
Shoalhaven City SES has a Community Education Officer who organises days with schools, community events and unit open days. The main role of this team is to educate the community about the SES, it functions and what they themselves should do in the event of a storm, flood or tsunami. The Community Education Officer is always on the lookout for volunteers to help him to achieve these goals.
The Critical Incident Support Program is a major initiative to provide support services for members of the NSW State Emergency Service.
Critical incident support services are provided to assist in:
Mitigating the impact of a critical incident.
Accelerating the normal recovery process.
Anyone in the SES or a member of their family may request assistance by ringing 1800 626 800
At Shoalhaven City SES unit we also have the advantage of having a Region Chaplain who can also assist in matters emotional or spiritual .
The Shoalhaven City SES unit has a small library located outside the admin office which contains SOP’s and SOI’s (Standard Operation Procedure & Standard Operation Instruction), past Volunteer Australia magazine, Director General newsletters, videos and other information. This material is there for your perusal but please do not take any of this material away from the unit.
Take the time to read SOP’s and SOI’s relevant to your needs.
These explain the correct procedures for call outs and receiving SMS messages to attend events.
There are pigeon holes located just inside the headquarter doors. This is where you will find most forms needed for volunteers of the unit.
Unfortunately the SES is made up of anagrams. There will be an updated list available so you may understand them. Don’t be afraid to ask.
There are numerous brochures and booklets at the unit that you may take to find out more about the State Emergency Service.
On deciding to become an SES volunteer you will receive a membership package which includes an application form, criminal check and Code of Conduct manual.
In the next week or so you must then have an interview about you joining our Unit and at this time your form will be verified and a 100 point identification check is also carried out.
While this is occurring you would have sent your criminal check to State Headquarters.
Officially you are on probation for 3 months (or to the discretion of the Local Controller) but at the Shoalhaven City Unit we like to get you involved as soon as possible.
A photograph for your identification card will be taken during this time.
If you change your details at any time you must fill in a Change of Details form (formally known as Membership Update form)
The Shoalhaven City SES Unit meets at the SES Headquarters at 92 Albatross Road, every Wednesday night at 7pm (1900hrs) Some training may occur on the occasional weekend or other night.
The public are welcome to come along on Wednesday nights to receive more information and to look around at the facilities.
To be sent more information about volunteering for the SES call 1 800 201 000 (leaving your name and contact details) or click on the ‘Join Us’ form below
